DECLARE Synonyms: 169 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'declare' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of declare are announce , proclaim , and promulgate . While all these words mean "to make known publicly," declare implies explicitness and usually formality in making known. // the referee declared the contest a draw

Q: Where would 'announce' be a reasonable alternative to 'declare'?

The meanings of announce and declare largely overlap; however, announce implies the declaration of something for the first time. // announced their engagement at a party

Q: When might 'proclaim' be a better fit than 'declare'?

While the synonyms proclaim and declare are close in meaning, proclaim implies declaring clearly, forcefully, and authoritatively. // the president proclaimed a national day of mourning

Q: In what contexts can 'promulgate' take the place of 'declare'?

The words promulgate and declare can be used in similar contexts, but promulgate implies the proclaiming of a dogma, doctrine, or law. // promulgated an edict of religious toleration

declare

verb

di-ˈkler

Definition of declare

as in to announce

to make known openly or publicly she chose to declare her presidential aspirations at her college alma mater

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to insist

to state as a fact usually forcefully she would declare her innocence to the whole world if she could

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to assert

to state clearly and strongly our guest enthusiastically declared that the pie was the best he had ever eaten

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to reveal

to make known (something abstract) through outward signs though she was silent, her expression declared her unwillingness to go along with the others

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb declare differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of declare are announce, proclaim, and promulgate. While all these words mean "to make known publicly," declare implies explicitness and usually formality in making known.

the referee declared the contest a draw

Where would announce be a reasonable alternative to declare?

The meanings of announce and declare largely overlap; however, announce implies the declaration of something for the first time.

announced their engagement at a party

When might proclaim be a better fit than declare?

While the synonyms proclaim and declare are close in meaning, proclaim implies declaring clearly, forcefully, and authoritatively.

the president proclaimed a national day of mourning

In what contexts can promulgate take the place of declare?

The words promulgate and declare can be used in similar contexts, but promulgate implies the proclaiming of a dogma, doctrine, or law.

promulgated an edict of religious toleration

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of declare Fans walked around downtown in gear declaring their dominance - national championship tees and Rose Bowl jackets - and businesses hung signs in homage to their head coach’s brashness. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026 Since 1970, when Milton Friedman declared that a corporation's only social responsibility is profit, businesses have been re-engineered around delivering the most value possible to shareholders. — Christopher Marquis, Time, 16 Oct. 2026 This fertile period of creative and intellectual life wasn’t even a renaissance, one partygoer declares. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026 Thus, no sooner was Digger declared one of the biggest flops of all time than the reclamation project got underway. — Nate Jones, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for declare

Recent Examples of Synonyms for declare

Verb

Trump blindsided Zelenskyy last weekend by announcing that Ukraine and Russia had agreed not to target each other's energy facilities.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
In recent weeks, legal trouble has brewed between her estate and nephew Brian Seaver, who was also her longtime head of security and the one who announced her passing to fans in a video on her social media.

— Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of announce

Verb

While officials insist the demolitions are a non-negotiable step toward revitalizing the corridor along Old National Highway, the families and owners left in the wake of the bulldozers say true recovery remains a distant promise.

— La'Tasha Givens, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
There is a distinction, of course, between insisting on witnesses and staging a spectacle.

— Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of insist

Verb

Moriarty's office said rejection killings are a form of femicide in which women are targeted for asserting autonomy over their bodies.

— Jason Rantala, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Expect Bass at tonight’s debate to try and assert her dominance early with equal part offense against Raman and defense of her record.

— Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of assert

Verb

Millions of votes are not yet cast, and anyone professing to know exactly what's going to happen is lying.

— Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 13 Oct. 2026
But Israeli commentators also professed shock, if not surprise, Sunday at how closely aligned the journalist and spin doctor appeared to be.

— Ben Smith, semafor.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of profess

Verb

Once everything is organized, PocketWise displays upcoming payments on a subscription calendar and sends renewal reminders before charges are due.

— StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 20 Oct. 2026
Blocked from public view for nine years, the mural was finally displayed in 1957.

— David Hajdu, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of display

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declarations

declare

declared

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“Declare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declare. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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